AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, DoD to Explore Spectrum Sharing

AT&T today announced via its public policy blog that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless, and the Department of Defense to explore the idea of sharing spectrum. The agreement follows recommendations made by the NTIA last year that the option be used as an alternative to new spectrum auctions. The companies will test sharing a 95MHz slice of airwaves between 1755MHz and 1850MHz, which is currently used by the DoD. The testing will be carried out over the next couple of months, and is expected to be completed by the end of March. The tests will include monitoring, sharing, and simulations at five locations specified by the DoD to see if DoD activities are harmed or disrupted by nearby base station activity. The results will be shared by the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee when ready.

This is specifically to see whether or not *any* wireless carrier can operate a network on spectrum that's already being used by the government (1755-1850MHz). This particular plan is a test of these specific airwaves only, and just to make a ...(continues)